Pump apparatus



Nov. 21, 1967 e. K. WILLIAMS PUMP APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1967 fen/ 791KilzZZz'azz JNVENTOR.

nrmims'nfi United States Patent 3,353,497 PUMP APPARATUS George K.Williams, Rte. 1, Box 121-A, Mobile, Ala. 36605 Filed Feb. 3, 1967, Ser.No. 613,772 Claims. (Cl. 103-262) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theinvention comprises a bilge water ejection device for a boat including aventuri pump located below the transom of the boat and a vacuum lineleading into the boat over the transom thereof, having a ball valvewithin the vacuum line to prevent a backflow siphoning of water into theboat when the boat is at rest.

This invention relates to fluid pumps generally, and more particularlyto an improved bilge water ejection apparatus for boats and the likecharacterized by lack of moving parts, means permitting removal of theinvention from the boat, and secondary utility as a siphon device.

This application is a continuation-i-n-part of my appli cation Ser. No.549,652, filed May 12, 1966, now abancloned.

The invention has particular utility with small pleasure craft whichhave increased a hundredfold in numbers in recent years, and can befound in almost any body of navigable water in the country. With theincreased numbers of boats has come the inevitable diversity of types ofcraft and of modes of construction and use. However, one problem stillseeks a satisfactory solution. This problem is removing water in theinterior of the boat, accumulated either through leakage or rainfall,quickly, efficiently, and at minimum cost. The present inventionovercomes the problem by providing a bailing device that is completelyself-contained, portable, and maintenance free. The invention may beattached to a boat without need of any modification of the boatwhatsoever. Further, the invention needs no power source other thanwater passing beneath the boat, and will not interfere with anypropulsion or steering means used with the boat, or with any trawlingdevice used from the boat. Finally, the invention may be used as asiphon for removing accumulated water in the boat while the boat is on atrailer on land.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a venturi pumpapparatus located directly beneath the transom of the boat, a first,rigid vacuum line operatively connected to the vacuum inlet of theventuri, a second, flexible inlet line connected to the free end of thefirst line which extends to the interior bottom of the boat, where watercollects, a bracket assembly attached to the invention at the junctionof the first and second lines for removably securing the invention tothe transom of the boat, and a ball valve assembly within the firstrigid line to prevent backflow siphoning into the boat when the boat isat rest in the water.

Further and more complete objects and advantages of the invention may behad by reference to the following specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention, showing the sameattached to the transom of a boat (shown in partial section);

FIGURE 2 is a detail, elevational view of the upper portion of theinvention as shown in FIG. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail, elevational view of the lower portion of theinvention as shown in FIG. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of the end of the inlet line, shown resting onthe interior bottom of the boat in FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the invention by reference characters and in particularto FIG. 1 thereof, the invention is shown comprising a venturi pump 10,situated immediately to the rear of transom 12 of boat 14, andimmediately beneath the rear, bottom edge of hull 16, a first, rigid,vertical vacuum line 18, a bracket assembly 2t), and a flexible inletline 22. FIGURE 4 indicates that the venturi 10 includes an entry port24 having a jet opening 26 and a jet nozzle 28 formed therein, an intakeSt) for vacuum line 18, and an elongated discharge tube 32. Venturi 10operates in the usual manner, in that when boat 14 is being propelledthrough water (propulsion means not shown), water under pressure willenter entry port 24, due to its location beneath the hull 16. The waterenters jet opening 26, where the velocity of the water is increased dueto the decreasing internal diameter of the jet opening from the entryport 24 to the jet nozzle 28. Water emitted from jet nozzle 28 willcreate a negative pressure potential in chamber 34, around and behindnozzle 28. This potential is utilized by forming intake 30 for line 18in venturi 10, adjacent chamber 34.

In order to permit use of the invention with several different boats,and to permit easy attachment and removal of the invention, venturi 10is not attached directly to the boat, but is maintained in properposition by the inflexibility of vacuum line 18, line 18 being securedto the boat through bracket assembly 20".

Bracket assembly 29 includes an inverted U-shaped base member 36, whichis attached to transom 12 by suitable means such as a pair of clampingscrews 38, 38, an L-shaped support plate 41 for lines 18 and 22, and aspring loaded pivot mount 42 on base 36 for plate 40. Pivot mount 42includes a first pair of ears 44, 44 on base 36, a second pair of ears46, 46 depending from L-shaped plate 40, aligned bores through bothpairs of ears to receive a pivot shaft assembly 48, and a torsion spring50 (FIG. 3) mounted on shaft 43 to plate 461, urging plate 40 rearwardlyand downwardly with respect to transom 12. Line 18 is secured rigidly toL-shaped plate 40 by suitable means, such as a pair of clamps 52, 52.Line 18 and venturi 10 are thus pivotally mounted on base 36 so as notto damage the invention should it strike floating or submerged debris inthe water. Should venturi 10 strike a foreign object, pivot mount allowsthe venturi 1t] and line 18 to swing upwardly about base 36 to clear theobject and prevent damage to the invention.

As indicated in FIG. 2, flexible inlet line 22 is attached to line 18 bya suitable fitting 54. The lower interior end of line 22 is providedwith a strainer 56 (FIG. 4) which prevents accumulated debris in theinterior of the boat from being sucked into the invention and blockingthe operation thereof.

FIGURES 1, 4 and 6 indicate a ball valve assembly including buoyant ball58, upper valve seat 60, and flange 62 at the base of line 18.Preferably, seat 60 will be located above the water line indicated inFIG. 1 so that the invention will operate even at very slow speeds andto avoid excess water pressure being required to unseat ball 58 fromseat 60. Seat 60, which comprises a reduction in the internal diameterof line 18, serves to block backflow of water into the boat when theboat is at rest, aided by ball 58 thereagainst. Flange 62 is provided toretain ball 58 permitting bilge water to escape into discharge tube 32when the invention is operating. Water pressure 3 in line 18 will forceball 58 down to the base of line 18, where passage 64 is formed in line18, internally of flange 62. Passage 64 has a width less than thediameter of ball 58 to prevent ball 58 from blocking the escape of waterthrough flange 62.

As mentioned above, the invention may be used as a siphon to removeaccumulated rainwater from the interior of the boat when the boat is ondry land, on a trailer or the like. This is accomplished with the use ofa garden hose or other water supply under pressure (not shown) forpurposes of priming the invention. Water is introduced through theforward end of entry port 24 until lines 18 and 22 are full. Withremoval of the hose, water will siphon through the invention, asstrainer 56 is situated at a higher position than discharge tube 32. Ofcourse, when the invention is used for bailing purposes and the venturiis employed, priming of the invention is unnecessary, as movement of theboat through water will create a constant vacuum in lines 18 and 22,sufficient to withdraw water from the boat.

The invention may be constructed of various materials, such as metals orplastics. Line 22 need not be flexible, but it is desirable so thatstrainer 56 may be placed in the lowest interior part of the hull 16.The invention may be constructed in collapsible form so as to fit in asmall area when not in use, such as a tackle box. Thus, a fisherman whorents a boat to enjoy the sport of fishing could carry the inventionwith him to hail the rented boat. Finally, line 22 may be made ofseveral interfitting sections to vary the length thereof so as toaccommodate the invention to boats of varying transom height.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing that I have invented a new andhighly useful device in the art of bilge water ejection devices, andthus I am not to be limited to the exact construction as hereinbeforeprovided, except as may be deemed to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A removable bilge water ejection device for use with a boat or thelike comprising: a venturi pump operable by movement of said pumpthrough the water, a first rigid vacuum line operatively connected tosaid venturi pump, a bracket assembly supporting said vacuum line andadapted for clamping engagement with a boat transom or the like, and asecond vacuum inlet line operatively connected to the free end of saidfirst line and adapted for communication with a source of bilge water tobe ejected, said bracket assembly comprising an inverted U-shaped plate,adapted to fit over said transom or the like, at least one clampingscrew extending through one part of said bracket to said transom or thelike, a pair of upright ears having aligned bores therein on the top ofsaid bracket, and L-shape support plate adapted to rest on said bracket,the base of said L-shaped plate positioned generally parallel to andover the upper and rear faces of said U-shaped plate, a second pair ofcars having aligned bores therein formed on the under-surface of saidL-shaped plate, adjacent said first pair of ears, a central shaftthrough said bores, both of said pairs of cars securing said platestogether, a torsion spring mounted interiorly of said pairs of carsalong said shaft urging said L-shaped support plate against saidU-shaped plate, and clamp means for securing said first vacuum linerigidly to said L-shaped plate.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said venturi pump comprises an entryport for water under pressure, supplied by movement of the pump throughwater, a tapered jet opening formed in said entry port, a jet nozzle atthe end of said jet opening, discharge of water through said jet nozzlecreating a suction area within said venturi pump, an intake formed insaid suction area, and extending upwardly to receive said first vacuumline, and an elongated discharge tube connected to said pump about saidjet nozzle and extending rearwardly of said pump for discharge of saidwater under pressure and said bilge water.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the free terminal end of said inletline is provided with a strainer to exclude accumulated debris from saiddevice.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said inlet line is formed of flexiblematerial.

5. The device of claim 1 including a ball valve assembly within saidfirst vacuum line to prevent backfiow siphoning of water, said assemblycomprising: a buoyant ball, located within said first line, an uppervalve seat for said ball and a lower valve seat including walls adjacentthe end of said first line, defining an opening, said opening affordingcommunication between said first line and said venturi pump, saidopening being configured to retain said ball while permitting the flowof water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 452,308 5/1891 Lee 103262 X1,769,136 7/1930 Hepburn 103--262 X 1,783,095 11/1930 Muirhead et al.103-263 X 2,120,858 6/1938 Davant 103-262 2,479,783 8/1949 Sawyer et al103262 X 2,604,867 7/1952 Frye 103-262 2,672,113 3/1954 McCartney 103262X 2,711,151 6/ 1955 Shoemaker 103262 X 3,175,515 3/1965 Cheely 103262ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

W. J. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A REMOVABLE BILGE WATER EJECTION DEVICE FOR USE WITH A BOAT OR THELIKE COMPRISING: A VENTURI PUMP OPERABLE BY MOVEMENT OF SAID PUMPTHROUGH THE WATER, A FIRST RIGID VACUUM LINE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TOSAID VENTURI PUMP, A BRACKET ASSEMBLY SUPPORTING SAID VACUUM LINE ANDADAPTED FOR CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH A BOAT TRANSOM OR THE LIKE, AND ASECOND VACUUM INLET LINE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE FREE END OF SAIDFIRST LINE AND ADAPTED FOR COMMUNICATION WITH A SOURCE OF BILGE WATER TOBE EJECTED, SAID BRACKET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN INVERTED U-SHAPED PLATE,ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID TRANSOM OR THE LIKE, AT LEAST ONE CLAMPINGSCREW EXTENDING THROUGH ONE PART OF SAID BRACKET TO SAID TRANSOM OR THELIKE, A PAIR OF UPRIGHT EARS HAVING ALIGNED BORES THEREIN ON THE TOP OFSAID BRACKET, AND L-SHAPED SUPPORT PLATE ADAPTED TO REST ON SAIDBRACKET, THE BASE OF SAID L-SHAPED PLATE POSITIONED GENERALLY PARLLEL TOAND OVER THE UPPER AND REAR FACES OF SAID U-SHAPED PLATE, A SECOND PAIROF EARS HAVING ALIGNED BORES THEREIN FORMED ON THE UNDER-SURFACE OF SAIDL-SHAPED PLATE, ADJACENT SAID FIRST PAIR OF EARS A CENTRAL SHAFT THROUGHSAID BORES, BOTH OF SAID PAIRS OF EARS SECURING SAID PLATES TOGETHER, ATORISON SPRING MOUNTED INTERIORLY OF SAID PAIRS OF EARS ALONG SAID SHAFTURGING SAID L-SHAPED SUPPORT PLATE AGAINST SAID U-SHAPED PLATE, ANDCLAMP MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FIRST VACUUM LINE RIGIDLY OF SAID L-SHAPEDPLATE.